Troy Council approves preliminary plan for townhome community

By Pat Pratt

ppratt@timestribunenews.com

A new townhome community in Troy is moving closer to reality after city council members on Monday approved rezoning and preliminary development plans. 

The Bella Rose Manor development will feature 11 townhomes located on a 3.45 acre parcel southwest of the intersection of West Center and South Washington streets. The townhomes will be a mix of four and five unit buildings and are being constructed by Hartmann Development. 

Developer Shawn Hartmann in his application to the city cited a number of benefits for improving the lot, which has sat vacant for some time. The community will be close to downtown and amenities available there, as well as within walking distance of Tri-Township Library and Park. 

In addition to approval of the preliminary site plan, council members also approved a rezoning request for the parcel. The lot was previously zoned general commercial, but at the meeting was changed to planned residential to allow for the townhomes. The surrounding area is mostly residential, according to the city zoning map. 

Another zoning change was approved at the meeting for a nine-acre parcel at 2466 Formosa Road, an address previously the topic of discussion by the council and the planning commission due to an unrelated zoning change to 11-acres of the larger 20-acre property.

In December, the Troy Planning Commission approved rezoning of the 11-acre parcel to allow for construction of a storage facility. The approval drew the ire of residents of an adjoining 55-plus living community, which opposed a commercial enterprise in such close proximity. The council later approved the rezoning and preliminary site plans after developer James Malecek, of St. Louis made several changes to the design. 

At the meeting Monday, a less contentious rezoning of the other nine-acres of the 20-acre parcel from single-family to two-family residential was approved. The application was made by CPO Investments. A preliminary site plan was not immediately available. 

According to statements by council at the meeting, the rezoning was inline with hopes of residents of the adjoining living community to avoid additional commercial or industrial development near their neighborhood. 

Also related to residential construction, a special-use permit was approved at the meeting for construction of a multi-unit building at 105 South Border Street. The area is currently zoned as mixed-use commercial and a special use was needed for construction of a multi-family dwelling. 

Currently, a multi-family structure sits on the site, which will be demolished to make way for construction of the new residences by Lindow Investments. A stipulation for the permit granted Monday includes that developers will construct a sidewalk on the east side of the parcel. 

In addition to the zoning changes and improvements approved at the meeting, the city’s zoning map itself has been updated. The updated map is available for inspection by the public at the Troy Municipal Building. 

In other news from the meeting, council members approved several consent agenda items.  

The city treasurer’s report for February was approved and shows a beginning balance of $12,672,873 and an ending balance of $12,846,393. The total treasury account makes up the bulk of those funds and includes the general fund, police fund, street fund and others. The total treasury account as of Feb. 28 showed revenues for the month were $2,675,130 and expenditures were $2,534,274. The ending balance was $8,979,664. 

Other major funds included the motor tax fund, which in February showed revenues of $64,014, expenditures of $10,472 and an ending balance of $898,800. Also a separate item, the TIF escrow fund showed revenues of $807, expenditures of $17,075 and an ending balance of $641,688. The water reserve fund listed revenues of $2,686 for the month, $15,400 in expenditures and an ending balance of $2,178,324. 

New business registration reports approved as part of the consent agenda showed two new local businesses – Wolph Lawn Care LLC and Troy Vegas, LLC. 

Troy Police activity reports were also approved as part of the consent agenda. The agency in February responded to 1,232 incidents, including three felony and 36 misdemeanor arrests. The bulk of incidents, 344, were subdivision checks. Vacation checks also constituted 101 of those reported incidents. 

Officers in February made 254 traffic stops, double the year prior statistic for February 2022. Fine revenues collected for the month were listed at $2,821. 

The next meeting of the Troy City Council is set for 6:30 p.m. April 3 in the Council Chambers in the Troy Municipal Building, 116 E. Market Street.